Moncton man fights Hyundai over car he says is a 'lemon'

A Moncton man is fighting to get Hyundai Canada to replace the car he bought brand new three years ago. 

Suhaib Raouf, 24, calls the 2013 Veloster a "lemon." 

He says he's had the vehicle repaired dozens of times, for everything from peeling paint to serious engine problems.

When he starts his car a big cloud of smoke belches from the exhaust.

Raouf says he paid $36,000 for the Veloster Turbo from the Hyundai dealer in Charlottetown.

"This nightmare started a few months after I purchased the car."

Since then, he says the car's paint has peeled and the tires have had to be replaced three times — possibly due to a misalignment on the car.

But Raouf says the worst problems are with the engine.

"A number of times during winter snowstorm the car shut down on the highway, and the steering wheel just locked and I almost lost control of the car. It was scary."

Right now, he says the car is undriveable.

He filed a complaint with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan, an organization that resolves issues between consumers and manufacturers. 

Usually, arbitrators resolve issues within 70 days. This case is now into its sixth month.

Phil Edmonston, the author of the Lemon Aid car guides, says the next step for Raouf is to seek redress from the courts.

"This owner has been more than patient."

CBC contacted Hyundai Canada to respond to Raouf's complaints, but the company has not responded to our enquiries.